Psychology Final Exam
Psychology Final Exam Questions
with Detailed Answers
This final exam includes 30 questions covering research methods, biological foundations,
cognitive processes, developmental stages, social influences, and abnormal psychology.
Designed for university-level assessments, it features 20 multiple-choice, 6 true/false, and
4 short-answer questions with detailed answers to foster deep understanding and exam
success.
1 Research Methods in Psychology
This section evaluates knowledge of experimental methods, ethics, and data analysis.
1.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. What is the primary purpose of a placebo in experimental research?
a) To increase participant motivation
b) To control for expectancy effects
c) To simplify data analysis
d) To ensure random sampling
Answer: b
Explanation: A placebo controls for expectancy effects by providing a neutral
condition, allowing researchers to isolate the effect of the independent variable from
participants beliefs about the treatment.
2. Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme scores?
a) Mean
b) Median
c) Mode
d) Midrange
Answer: a
Explanation: The mean is sensitive to extreme scores, as it accounts for all values
in a dataset, unlike the median, which focuses on the middle value, or the mode,
which identifies the most frequent value.
3. A study with high internal validity ensures:
a) Results apply to a broad population
b) The independent variable causes the observed effect
c) Participants are unaware of the hypothesis
d) Data are statistically significant
Answer: b
Explanation: Internal validity reflects the extent to which a study accurately
demonstrates that the independent variable causes the dependent variable, mini-
mizing confounding factors.
4. Which sampling method is most likely to produce a representative sam-
ple?
a) Convenience sampling
1
, Psychology Final Exam
b) Purposive sampling
c) Random sampling
d) Snowball sampling
Answer: c
Explanation: Random sampling gives every individual in the population an equal
chance of selection, reducing bias and increasing representativeness compared to
non-random methods.
1.2 True/False Questions
1. A longitudinal study tracks the same participants over time.
Answer: True
Explanation: Longitudinal studies follow the same individuals across multiple
time points to observe changes, unlike cross-sectional studies, which compare dif-
ferent groups at one time.
2. Correlation coefficients can range from 0 to 1.
Answer: False
Explanation: Correlation coefficients range from -1 to 1, where negative values
indicate an inverse relationship, positive values indicate a direct relationship, and
0 indicates no relationship.
1.3 Short-Answer Question
1. Explain the ethical principle of debriefing and its importance in psycho-
logical research.
Answer: Debriefing involves informing participants about the studys purpose,
procedures, and any deception used after participation. It is crucial for ensuring
participants leave with a clear understanding, addressing any distress, and main-
taining trust in research.
Explanation: Debriefing upholds ethical standards by respecting participants au-
tonomy and well-being, particularly in studies involving deception, where it clarifies
the true nature of the research.
2 Biological Psychology
This section examines the biological bases of behavior and mental processes.
2.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Which brain region is critical for forming new memories?
a) Cerebellum
b) Hippocampus
c) Pons
d) Frontal lobe
Answer: b
Explanation: The hippocampus plays a key role in encoding and consolidating
2
Psychology Final Exam Questions
with Detailed Answers
This final exam includes 30 questions covering research methods, biological foundations,
cognitive processes, developmental stages, social influences, and abnormal psychology.
Designed for university-level assessments, it features 20 multiple-choice, 6 true/false, and
4 short-answer questions with detailed answers to foster deep understanding and exam
success.
1 Research Methods in Psychology
This section evaluates knowledge of experimental methods, ethics, and data analysis.
1.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. What is the primary purpose of a placebo in experimental research?
a) To increase participant motivation
b) To control for expectancy effects
c) To simplify data analysis
d) To ensure random sampling
Answer: b
Explanation: A placebo controls for expectancy effects by providing a neutral
condition, allowing researchers to isolate the effect of the independent variable from
participants beliefs about the treatment.
2. Which measure of central tendency is most affected by extreme scores?
a) Mean
b) Median
c) Mode
d) Midrange
Answer: a
Explanation: The mean is sensitive to extreme scores, as it accounts for all values
in a dataset, unlike the median, which focuses on the middle value, or the mode,
which identifies the most frequent value.
3. A study with high internal validity ensures:
a) Results apply to a broad population
b) The independent variable causes the observed effect
c) Participants are unaware of the hypothesis
d) Data are statistically significant
Answer: b
Explanation: Internal validity reflects the extent to which a study accurately
demonstrates that the independent variable causes the dependent variable, mini-
mizing confounding factors.
4. Which sampling method is most likely to produce a representative sam-
ple?
a) Convenience sampling
1
, Psychology Final Exam
b) Purposive sampling
c) Random sampling
d) Snowball sampling
Answer: c
Explanation: Random sampling gives every individual in the population an equal
chance of selection, reducing bias and increasing representativeness compared to
non-random methods.
1.2 True/False Questions
1. A longitudinal study tracks the same participants over time.
Answer: True
Explanation: Longitudinal studies follow the same individuals across multiple
time points to observe changes, unlike cross-sectional studies, which compare dif-
ferent groups at one time.
2. Correlation coefficients can range from 0 to 1.
Answer: False
Explanation: Correlation coefficients range from -1 to 1, where negative values
indicate an inverse relationship, positive values indicate a direct relationship, and
0 indicates no relationship.
1.3 Short-Answer Question
1. Explain the ethical principle of debriefing and its importance in psycho-
logical research.
Answer: Debriefing involves informing participants about the studys purpose,
procedures, and any deception used after participation. It is crucial for ensuring
participants leave with a clear understanding, addressing any distress, and main-
taining trust in research.
Explanation: Debriefing upholds ethical standards by respecting participants au-
tonomy and well-being, particularly in studies involving deception, where it clarifies
the true nature of the research.
2 Biological Psychology
This section examines the biological bases of behavior and mental processes.
2.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Which brain region is critical for forming new memories?
a) Cerebellum
b) Hippocampus
c) Pons
d) Frontal lobe
Answer: b
Explanation: The hippocampus plays a key role in encoding and consolidating
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